MEMPHIS — During its winter meetings on Feb. 26–27 at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) campus, the UT Board of Trustees approved the UT System’s five-year strategic plan, which provides a clear roadmap for advancing the mission of serving Tennesseans and beyond through education, discovery and outreach.
The Be One UT 2030 Strategic Plan sets goals to expand access and student success, grow research and innovation, fuel the state’s workforce and strengthen communities across Tennessee.
Affordability remains a central priority, alongside a focus on expanding access. The strategic plan outlines a goal of increasing total enrollment to 85,000 by 2030, while continuing to improve the financial outlook for graduates. Currently, 55 percent of UT undergraduate students graduate debt-free, and the plan sets a goal of reaching 65 percent by 2030 by strengthening UT Promise and other student financial aid. The plan also calls for increasing the number of physicians and physician assistants, expanding academic credentials and piloting innovative pathways such as 90-credit degree programs.
“At the heart of this plan is student success,” UT System President Randy Boyd said. “It’s about expanding access, improving retention and completion, and helping more students graduate with less debt. When our students succeed, families are stronger, communities thrive and Tennessee’s future workforce is ready.”
The newly approved plan includes a goal to strengthen the Tennessee Rural Health Center of Excellence by capturing up to $207 million in new funding. This effort builds on a four-year, $12 million statewide initiative led by the UTHSC to help close rural health care gaps across Tennessee.
The 2025–2030 strategic plan also prioritizes advancing funding for key capital projects that support academic excellence, workforce development and research capacity. Among the top priorities are UTHSC’s $311 million College of Medicine Interdisciplinary Building, which will modernize medical education and strengthen interdisciplinary training, and UT Martin’s $4.23 million Cattle Outreach and Workforce (COW) Facility, designed to enhance hands-on learning and agricultural workforce preparation. These investments reflect the strategic plan’s emphasis on infrastructure modernization as a critical enabler of long-term institutional growth and statewide impact.
“This strategic plan reflects a disciplined and thoughtful approach to advancing the University of Tennessee’s mission,” UT Board of Trustees Chairman John Compton said. “With clearly defined priorities and measurable objectives, it establishes a strong framework for accountability and long-term institutional strength.”
“When we accomplish this plan, it will undeniably be the greatest decade in the history of the University of Tennessee,” Boyd said.
The full strategic plan can be found here.
During the meetings, trustees also received updates from university chancellors on enrollment growth, student success initiatives, research advancements and efforts to expand Tennessee’s health care workforce, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
They also reviewed results from the systemwide student experience survey, which showed that 87 percent of students would recommend their campus as a great place to study, a 26 percent increase from five years earlier. The board discussed ongoing student mental health and wellness initiatives, highlighting the university’s continued investments in student support, engagement and campus climate that strengthen student retention, graduation and overall student success.
In other business, trustees:
- Approved the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s strategic plan;
- Approved the purchase of the Cherokee Mills office complex on Sutherland Avenue in Knoxville;
- Approved tuition and fees for UTHSC programs for the 2026–27 academic year; and
- Approved the appointment of the interim treasurer, effective March 7.
Archived video of the committee and board meetings can be viewed here. View and download photos from the Feb. 26–27 meetings here.
